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===What is a stencil?=== | ===What is a stencil?=== | ||
- | A //stencil// is a material with cutouts that enables solderpaste to be more easily and precisely applied prior to component placement and reflow. (If you don't know what I mean by ' | + | A //stencil// is a material with cutouts that enables solderpaste to be more easily and precisely applied prior to component placement and reflow. (If you don't know what I mean by ' |
Stencils are by no means a required or necessary step for completing your PCB. They are very useful if you have many surface-mounted components (SMDs), SMDs with many pins or fine-pitch pins, or have a few SMDs but many identical boards. //They do not work for through-hole components!// | Stencils are by no means a required or necessary step for completing your PCB. They are very useful if you have many surface-mounted components (SMDs), SMDs with many pins or fine-pitch pins, or have a few SMDs but many identical boards. //They do not work for through-hole components!// | ||
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===How to make a stencil=== | ===How to make a stencil=== | ||
Stencils can be fabricated at The Hive using the LPKF ProtoLaser U4. The process detailed here is for //**5 mil/0.125mm polyimide ONLY**//. The Hive provides this material free of charge to our users. For other // | Stencils can be fabricated at The Hive using the LPKF ProtoLaser U4. The process detailed here is for //**5 mil/0.125mm polyimide ONLY**//. The Hive provides this material free of charge to our users. For other // | ||
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+ | **NOTE:** If you're using the PET sheets ([[https:// | ||
//(If you have never used the ProtoLaser before, you'll need to be trained prior to use; see [[pcb-training|this page]] for details on that. Stencils made of non-metallic materials, like polyimide, can also be made with our laser cutters, but that's beyond the scope of this write-up.) // | //(If you have never used the ProtoLaser before, you'll need to be trained prior to use; see [[pcb-training|this page]] for details on that. Stencils made of non-metallic materials, like polyimide, can also be made with our laser cutters, but that's beyond the scope of this write-up.) // |